Part for use in creating artificial dentures and process for using the same



March 22, 1966 D. D. KERSTEN 3,241,238

PART FOR E IN CREATING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES A PROCESS FOR USING THE SAME Flled March 12 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR. DA N/EL D. KERS TEN BY OER/AM & BLACKHAM A 7702MB Y9 March 22, 1966 D. D. KERSTE'N 3,241,238

PART FOR USE IN CREATING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES AND PROCESS FOR USING THE SAME Filed March 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DAN/EL D. KERs TEN O'BR/AA/ & BLACKHAM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,241,238 PART FOR USE IN CREATING ARTIFICIAL DEN- TURES AND PROCESS FOR USING THE SAME Daniel D. Kersten, 925 E. Center St., Anaheim, Calif. Filed Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 179,066 14 Claims. (Cl. 32-2) This invention pertains to the field of artificial dentures, and more specifically to parts capable of being utilized in creating artificial dentures, to a process of creating artificial dentures using these parts, and to the dentures produced by this process.

The importance of artificial dentures is uniformly recognized. It is also uniformly recognized that artificial dentures produced by established techniques, such as techniques involving the vulcanization of rubber or the molding of various non-toxic resins such as acrylic resins are relatively expensive. As a result of such expenses many individuals who need artificial dentures among the lowerincome groups do not possess them. Further, many individuals do not spend the money to obtain artificial dentures which fit properly. A contributing factor to this latter is the fact that the shape of the human mouth will tend .to change materially after natural teeth have been removed, even after initially satisfactory dentures have been obtained and utilized.

An object of the present invention is to provide low cost artificial dentures which, although they are primarily designed for temporary utilization as temporary treatment dentures for use prior to the manufacture of a conventional set of dentures, are also capable of being used while on a permanent or semi-permanent basis whenever economic reasons make this desirable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide relatively inexpensive parts which are designed so that elements within these parts are capable of being employed in an artificial denture, and so that these parts are capable of being used as molds or mold-like elements during the creation of artificial dentures. Another object of the present invention concerns a process for utilizing such parts in which certain essential portions of an artificial denture are created within, and are bonded to, elements of a part as indicated in the preceding sentence so as to provide an artificial denture. A further object of the present invention is to provide artificial dentures produced by such a process which are capable of giving satisfactory service -for either temporary or prolonged periods.

These and various other objects of this invention as well as many specific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification including the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part used in creating an artificial denture used with an upper jaw in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a modified part corresponding to the part shown in the initial three figures;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a step in creating an artificial denture in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing another step used in creating a complete artificial denture of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a complete upper artificial denture created as herein described; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of a 3,241,23 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 part used in creating an artificial denture used with a lower jaw in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 99 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a complete lower artificial denture created as herein described.

From a careful consideration of the accompanying drawings and of this specification it will be realized that minor modifications of a routine nature within the field of dentistry can be utilized so as to modify the items shown in the accompanying drawing in order to adapt the structures shown in order to provide lower dentures and that such modifications involve essentially minor changes so as to make the items shown correspond to the shape of a lower jaw.

As an aid to understanding this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it concerns the use of a part having a number of elements capable of simulating teeth joined together by a continuous flange and a continuous diaphragm which correspond in shape to the configuration of buccal and labial regions of the mouth, and to the interior of the mouth generally between the teeth, respectively. In using this part a material capable -of setting up to a rigid body is placed in a liquid or serni-liquid form on it, and as the part is held in place in a month this material is allowed to become rigid. Preferably, but not necessarily an operation similar to this last step is repeated. Following this the flange and the diaphragm portions of the part may be removed from the rigid body in order to create a final denture.

The actual nature of this invention is best more fully described by referring directly to the accompanying drawing. In the initial FIGURES 1 through 3 of this drawing a part 10 is shown. This part 10 is preferably formed as a unitary, or one-piece construction out of a non-toxic plastic or resin such as various nylons, certain linear grades of polypropylene or the like having physical properties as hereinafter described and having a color corresponding to the color of conventional teeth.

This part 10 includes a plurality of separate elements 12 which are arranged with respect to one another in a linear path roughly corresponding to the shape of the arch of a mouth. Each of these elements 12 has an external appearance corresponding to the shape of a tooth of a normal or substantially normal mouth. Thus, it will be realized that the elements 12 differ from one another in external appearance so as to represent various teeth such as cuspids, bicuspids, etc. Although the terminal or crown portions of these elements 12 may be tapered corresponding to the shape of conventional teeth, it is presently preferred to provide them with flat or relatively flat chewing surfaces 14.

In the part 10 the elements 12 are surrounded by a continuous flexible yet self-supporting flange 16, the shape of which approximately corresponds to the shape of the buccal and labial regions of a normal mouth. The U-shaped area of the part 10 generally lying between the various elements 12 is enclosed with what may be referred to as a flexible diaphragm 18. Preferably this diaphragm corresponds in shape to the .shape of the palate region of a normal mouth. Preferably the small areas between the elements 12 and the flange 16 and the diaphragm 18 are filled in or closed with small connecting webs 20.

From an examination of FIGS, 2 and 3 of the drawing it will be seen that in the part 10 the construction described provides a groove 22 corresponding roughly to the shape of the ridge of a toothless mouth. Preferably the individual elements 12 are connected generally along this groove 22 by means of a wire 24 of an inert, nontoxic character such as, for example, a stainless steel wire or the like, which is capable of being deformed permanently to a desired configuration. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing this wire 24 extends through the webs 20 and through the interiors of the elements 12. Each of these elements 12 is preferably provided with an opening 26 leading from the groove 22 into the interior of it, and preferably each of the openings 26 is traversed or intersected by the Wire 24. Although the wire 24 is preferably dimensioned so as to extend through the various regions of the part 10 corresponding to the entire length of the alveolar ridge, satisfactory results for most purposes can be achieved when it extends past the elements 12 corresponding to the bicuspids of a normal mouth.

During the utilization of the part 10, this part is adjusted or deformed slightly so that the wire 24 approximately conforms in shape to the shape of the arch of a jaw for which a set of artificial dentures is being created. At this point the various elements 12 are spaced so as to be approximately located along the ridge on the jawbone. When the part 10 is located in a mouth to which it has been fitted in this manner by bending the wire 24, the flange 16 extends along the sides of the alveolar ridge and the diaphragm 18 extends across the palate region of the mouth. Preferably the diaphragm 18 and the flange 16 are dimensioned in the part 10 so as to terminate gen erally at the tuberosity region of the mouth or at the distal point of the palate, and at the edge of normal gums, respectively. However, if they do not end at these points. or regions in a particular month, they may be trimmed so as to correspond in dimension to the dimensions of this mouth. If desired, a small quantity of a conventional mold release agent (not shown) can be spread upon the interior of the flange 16 and the diaphragm 18 at this time in order to prevent a bond subsequently being formed with respect to these points of the part 10.

Following this a relatively small quantity of a liquid or semi-liquid material 28 as indicated in FIG. of the drawing capable of hardening in contact with the regions of the mouth to a rigid structure and which is of a nontoxic and non-irritating character is located generally across the diaphragm 18 within the grooves 22 and the openings 26 and against the flange 16. Suitable materials for this use are well known in the field of dentistry at the present time. Virtually any material such as a catalyzed acrylic or epoxy composition capable of hardening in the mouth having the properties indicated can be used. Preferably, any such composition contains a coloring agent so that the material 28 when it becomes hard has an appearance corresponding to the color of the interior of a conventional month. Also, preferably, the material 28 is of a type as specified which does not bond to the material in the part as it is employed as herein described. Next, the part 10 is pressed into the position within the mouth to which it has been fitted, and is held in such a position until this material 28 becomes hard.

Because of normal muscle reflexes and various other factors this material 28 when handened will approximately correspond to the internal shape of a denture, but normally will not quite correspond to the shape desired in a finished denture. Because of this it is preferred to locate upon the hardened material 28 another layer of the same or similar material 30 in a liquid or semi-liquid form and to locate this intermediate produce in the mouth in the desired position for a finished denture until the material 30 becomes hard. After the material 30 is set up a product as indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawing is obtained. Preferably the materials 28 and 30 used are acrylic or epoxy resins or the like which are capable of bonding to one another during this last step.

This product may be converted to a final denture 32 as indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawing by removing from it the flange and diaphragm, 16 and 18, respectively, of the part 10. In order to facilitate such removal small thinned areas in the nature of lines 34 may be initially formed in the part 10 along the edges of the elements 12 separating these elements from the flange 16 and the diaphragm 18. If a mold release agent is used as described in the preceding it will facilitate such removal. In this final denture the elements 12 will be firmly held by the material 28 extending into the openings 26 around the Wire 24.

In order for the denture 32 shown in FIG. 7 created as described in the preceding to operate properly it is necessary that these elements 12 be formed of a material which is sufficiently hard to withstand most normal chewing operations without bending, excessive wear, or the like. Various plastic materials such as known grades of nylon or the like referred to in preceding portions of this specification exhibit these properties when used in a mass sufliciently large so as to simulate a tooth. Moreover, such materials are considered desirable because when they are used in comparatively thin films, webs, flanges or diaphragms such structures are sufiiciently flexible so that they can be deformed in the shape of a mouth without difiiculty.

In FIG. 8 of the drawing there is shown a modified part 10' of the present invention which is designed to be utilized in the same manner as the part 10 in creating a lower denture 36 as indicated in FIG. 10. Since this part 10' is virtually identical to the part 10 previously described except in one regard, various parts of the denture 10 which are identical to or substantially identical to various parts of the denture 10 are not separately identified herein, and are designated both in the drawing and in the remainder of this specification by the primes of the numerals previously utilized to designate such parts.

The part 10 differs from the part 10 in that the diaphragm 18 employed in the part 10 is omitted and is replaced by a flange 40 corresponding to this diaphragm 18. This flange 40 is of such a character that it is capable of fitting within the lower part of a mouth in the region generally between the teeth of the lower jaw and around the base of the tongue. Because of the shape of the lower jaw of the mouth it is impossible to utilize within it a diaphragm such as the diaphragm 18. In effect the flange 40 corresponds to merely a part of this diaphragm 18.

The part 10' is utilized in the same manner as the part 10 in creating the denture 36 shown in FIG. 10 of the drawing. Preferably when a complete set of dentures is to be created in accordance with this invention, the upper denture is created before the lower denture is created as herein described.

If desired, either the part 10 or the part 10' may be modified in various different ways. As an example of this in FIG. 4 of the drawing there is shown a modified part 10" which is very similar to the parts 10 and 10'. Various specific elements or parts of this modified part 10" which are the same as, or substantially the same as corresponding elements or parts previously described are not separately designated herein and are shown both in the remainder of this specification and in the accompanying drawing by the double primes of the numerals previously employed.

The part 10" differs from the parts 10 and 10' in that the various openings 26" employed in it so as to achieve a locking action with respect to a material such as the material 28 are slanted with respect to the individual elements 12 at various different angles. In the part 10" the Wire 24" does not extend through the interior of these openings 26" but extends around them as shown.

From a careful consideration of the foregoing it will be realized that parts such as the parts 10 and 10 herein described may be employed so as to create satisfactory treatment of other dentures with a minimum of difliculty and that such dentures may be manufactured or created in a comparatively short period at a nominal cost. It will be further realized that as parts, such as the parts 10 and 10' are used, they will, of course, have to be adjusted so as to fit differently sized mouths, and that in many special cases it may be necessary to have especially sized parts such as these parts to fit other than average sized mouths. It will also be realized that if desired various areas or regions of a part, such as the parts and 10', may be cut away so as to utilize these parts in creating partial dentures for either an upper or lower jaw following essentially the procedure set forth in the preceding.

Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as being solely limited by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A part for use in creating an artificial denture which includes: a plurality of individual elements each of which has an external appearance of a simulated tooth, said elements being located with respect to one another in a linear path corresponding to the shape of the arch of a mouth; a continuous flange corresponding in shape to the buccal and labial regions of a mouth connected to said elements along one side of said linear path, said flange being integral with said elements and being flexible; a continuous portion corresponding in shape to the interior of the mouth generally between the teeth connected to said elements along the other side of said linear path, said continuous portion being integral with said elements and said flange and being flexible; connecting means extending between said elements, said connecting means being integral with said elements, said flange and said continuous portion; and means for holding each of said elements to a body of rigid material to be formed on each of said elements.

2. A part as defined in claim 1 including a deformable wire extending through at least some of said individual elements.

3. A part as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said means for holding comprises a hole formed in one of said elements.

4. A part as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said means for holding comprises a hole formed in one of said elements and including a deformable wire extending through at least some of said elements and through the interiors of the holes formed therein.

5. A part as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous portion is a diaphragm corresponding in shape to the palatal region of the mouth.

6. A part as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous portion is a flange corresponding in shape to the interior of a lower jaw generally between the teeth and the tongue.

7. A part for use in creating an artificial denture of a material of a non-toxic character capable of being rigid in a body and capable of being flexible when present in a thin layer, said part including: a plurality of individual elements, each of which has an external apperance of a simulated tooth, said elements being located with respect to one another in a linear path corresponding to the shape of the arch of a mouth and being sufliciently thick so as to be rigid in character; a continuous flexible flange corresponding in shape to the buccal and labial regions of a mouth connected to said elements along one side of said linear path; and a continuous flexible portion corresponding in shape to the interior of a mouth generally between the teeth connected to said elements so as to extend between elements along the other side of said path.

8. A part as defined in claim 7 wherein said flange and said diaphragm define a groove on the side of said part remote from said elements, and wherein an opening is located so as to extend into the interior of each of said elements from the base of said groove.

9, A part as defined in claim 8 wherein said openings are located at different angles with respect to one another.

10. A part as defined in claim 7 including a deformable, non-toxic, inert wire extending between at least some of said elements and wherein said wire extends through the interiors of the openings in the elements through which it extends.

11. A process for creating an artificial denture which includes: shaping a part having elements corresponding to teeth, a flange corresponding in shape to the buccal and labial regions of a mouth and a portion corresponding in shape to the interior of a mouth generally between the teeth so that said elements are disposed in a linear path corresponding to the shape of the arch of a mouth; locating a first composition capable of becoming hard in contact with the mouth on said part; inserting said part in the mouth to which it is shaped with said first composition being in contact with said elements and the buccal, labial and interior of the mouth generally between the teeth and extending across the alveolar crest of the mouth; holding said part in place until said first composition becomes hard; and removing the flange and said portion of said part from said elements and said first composition.

12. A process for creating an artificial denture which includes: shaping a part having elements corresponding to teeth, a flange corresponding in shape to the buccal and labial regions of a mouth and a portion corresponding in shape to the interior of -a mouth generally between the teeth so that said elements are disposed in a linear path corresponding to the shape of the arch of a mouth; locating a first composition capable of becoming hard in contact with the mouth on said part; inserting said part in the mouth to which it is shaped with said first composition being in contact with said elements and the buccal, labial and interior regions of the mouth generally between the teeth and extending across the alveolar crest of the mouth; holding said part in place until said first composition becomes hard; locating a second composition capable of becoming hard on said first-mentioned composition, said second composition being capable of bonding to said first composition; and inserting said part in the mouth to which it is shaped so that said second composition is in contact with the buccal, labial and interior regions of the mouth generally between the teeth and extends across the alveolar crest; holding said part in place until said second composition becomes hard; and removing the flange and palate regions of said part from said elements and said first and second compositions.

13. A part as defined in claim 1 including means -for facilitating the separation of said elements from said flange and said continuous portion located along the edges of said elements between said elements and said flange and said continuous portion.

14. A part as defined in claim 7 including means for facilitating the separation of said elements from said flange and said continuous portion located along the edges of said elements between said elements and said flange and said continuous portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,133 8/1954 Greene et al. 32-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 566,700 9/1957 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner, 

7. A PART FOR USE IN CREATING AN ARTIFICIAL DENTURE OF A MATERIAL OF NON-TOXIC CHARACTER CAPABLE OF BEING RIGID IN A BODY AND CAPABLE OF BEING FLEXIBLE WHEN PRESENT IN AN THIN LAYER, SAID PART INCLUDING; A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH HAS AN EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF A SIMULATED TOOTH, SAID ELEMENTS BEING LOCATED WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN A LINEAR PATH CORRESPONDING TO THE SHAPE OF THE ARCH OF A MOUTH AND BEING SUFFICIENTLY THICK SO AS TO BE RIGID IN CHARACTER; A CONTINUOUS FLEXIBLE FLANGE CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO THE BUCCAL AND LABIAL REGIONS OF A MOUTH CONNECTED TO SAID ELEMENTS ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID LINEAR PATH; AND A CONTINUOUS FLEXIBLE PORTION CORRERESPONDING IN SHAPE TO THE INTERIOR OF A MOUTH GENERALLY BETWEEN THE TEETH CONNECTED TO SAID ELEMENTS SO AS TO EXTEND BETWEEN ELEMENTS ALONG THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PATH. 